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08/10/2004
Ken Bigley has been executed, reports claim
Ken Bigley, the British man being held hostage by Islamic militants in Iraq, has been murdered, reports emerging today have claimed.
Reuters have quoted a source claiming to have seen video footage showing the 62-year-old engineer being beheaded.
Mr Bigley, flanked by six masked men, is shown making a statement to the camera before being executed. He was killed yesterday afternoon in the Latifiya, southwest of Baghdad, according to Reuters.
The Briton was seized more than three weeks ago, along with Eugene Armstrong and Jack Hensley, by the Tawhid and Jihad group which is led by Jordanian terrorist Abu Musab al Zarqawi. Mr Armstrong and Mr Hensley were beheaded shortly after being taken into captivity.
The Foreign Office said that it was making efforts to ascertain the veracity of the reports.
Ken Bigley's last appeal was broadcast by Al Jazeera on September 29. The Qatar-based news agency broadcast a short sequence showing the engineer sitting squat in a mesh cage. He appeared drained and exhausted, wearing an orange boiler suit similar to the kind other hostages have been forced to wear by militant captors.
Reacting immediately to the development, Mr Bigley's son Craig and his brother Philip appeared before cameras to appeal again for his life.
"We, as a family, feel that the ultimate decision to release him rests with you, the people who are holding him. We once again ask you, please show mercy to my father and release him," Craig Bigley said.
(gmcg/mb)
Reuters have quoted a source claiming to have seen video footage showing the 62-year-old engineer being beheaded.
Mr Bigley, flanked by six masked men, is shown making a statement to the camera before being executed. He was killed yesterday afternoon in the Latifiya, southwest of Baghdad, according to Reuters.
The Briton was seized more than three weeks ago, along with Eugene Armstrong and Jack Hensley, by the Tawhid and Jihad group which is led by Jordanian terrorist Abu Musab al Zarqawi. Mr Armstrong and Mr Hensley were beheaded shortly after being taken into captivity.
The Foreign Office said that it was making efforts to ascertain the veracity of the reports.
Ken Bigley's last appeal was broadcast by Al Jazeera on September 29. The Qatar-based news agency broadcast a short sequence showing the engineer sitting squat in a mesh cage. He appeared drained and exhausted, wearing an orange boiler suit similar to the kind other hostages have been forced to wear by militant captors.
Reacting immediately to the development, Mr Bigley's son Craig and his brother Philip appeared before cameras to appeal again for his life.
"We, as a family, feel that the ultimate decision to release him rests with you, the people who are holding him. We once again ask you, please show mercy to my father and release him," Craig Bigley said.
(gmcg/mb)
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30 September 2004
Son of UK hostage appeals again to kidnappers
The son of UK hostage Ken Bigley has made a direct appeal to the militant kidnappers to release his father, following on from Al Jazeera's broadcast yesterday of new footage which confirmed that Mr Bigley is still alive. The Qatar-based news agency broadcast a short sequence yesterday showing the 62-year-old engineer sitting squat in a mesh cage.
Son of UK hostage appeals again to kidnappers
The son of UK hostage Ken Bigley has made a direct appeal to the militant kidnappers to release his father, following on from Al Jazeera's broadcast yesterday of new footage which confirmed that Mr Bigley is still alive. The Qatar-based news agency broadcast a short sequence yesterday showing the 62-year-old engineer sitting squat in a mesh cage.
24 September 2004
Efforts to free Ken Bigley stepped up with leaflet drop
Efforts to free British engineer Ken Bigley from his kidnap ordeal in Iraq have been stepped up today with the distribution of 50,000 leaflets containing a personal appeal from his family.
Efforts to free Ken Bigley stepped up with leaflet drop
Efforts to free British engineer Ken Bigley from his kidnap ordeal in Iraq have been stepped up today with the distribution of 50,000 leaflets containing a personal appeal from his family.
17 January 2007
Ken Bigley death - man questioned
A man has reportedly been questioned in Turkey in connection with the death of Briton Ken Bigley, who was killed in Iraq in 2004.
Ken Bigley death - man questioned
A man has reportedly been questioned in Turkey in connection with the death of Briton Ken Bigley, who was killed in Iraq in 2004.
20 September 2004
Family of British hostage appeal for son's return
The family of Ken Bigley, the Liverpool man being held hostage in Iraq, have appealed for his safe release. In a statement sent to the Arab media Mr Bigley's younger brother Philip said that he spoke on behalf of their elderly mother who just wants to see her son return home "safe and sound".
Family of British hostage appeal for son's return
The family of Ken Bigley, the Liverpool man being held hostage in Iraq, have appealed for his safe release. In a statement sent to the Arab media Mr Bigley's younger brother Philip said that he spoke on behalf of their elderly mother who just wants to see her son return home "safe and sound".
29 June 2005
Bigley family appeals for release of body
The family of Ken Bigley, the British hostage murdered in Iraq last year, have appealed for his body to be released. The 62-year-old engineer from Liverpool was working in Baghdad, when he was taken hostage by Iraqi militant group Tawhid and Jihad on September 16, 2004.
Bigley family appeals for release of body
The family of Ken Bigley, the British hostage murdered in Iraq last year, have appealed for his body to be released. The 62-year-old engineer from Liverpool was working in Baghdad, when he was taken hostage by Iraqi militant group Tawhid and Jihad on September 16, 2004.
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